Username
Password
Brazil Quali: Heidfeld 6th as Kubica struggles
By BMW Sauber F1 Team
November 2 2008
Mixed emotions for the BMW Sauber F1 Team: While Nick Heidfeld delivered in solid style to secure eighth on the Brazilian GP grid, Robert Kubica encountered another difficult qualifying session. The Pole had to make do with 13th .
In the first knockout phase of qualifying, both BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers easily advanced to Q2. Both drivers went out twice and both set their personal best times on their second runs. Nick crossed the line in 1:12.371 minutes to finish ninth, while Robert was exactly one hundredth-of-a-second slower than his team-mate. With his 1:12.381-minute lap, he secured tenth. The fastest time of Q1, a 1:11.830-minute lap, was set by Ferrari's local hero, Felipe Massa.

Eliminated: Kazuki Nakajima, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil.

While Nick had no problems advancing to the top-ten shootout, Q2 meant the end of Robert's qualifying efforts. On his first run, the 23-year-old set a 1:12.300-minute lap to finish twelfth, while on his second he failed to improve. At the end of day he finished 13th. Nick, however, delivered in impressive style. At the second split time of his first flying lap the German even was the quickest of the entire field. When he crossed the line in 1:12.026 minutes he held sixth. Nick also went out for a second run but aborted it when it became obvious that none of the drivers behind him would be able to go faster. This time, McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen was the quickest, setting a 1:11.768-minute lap.

Eliminated: Nelson Piquet, Mark Webber, Robert Kubica, David Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello.

Having been 1.2 seconds slower than in Q2, Nick had to settle for qualifying eight. On his first run, the 31-year-old set a 1:13.603-minute lap, while on his second he improved to 1:13.297. Eighth position on the grid should allow Nick to add more points to his and the BMW Sauber F1 Team's tallies. Pole position was secured by Massa, while the Brazilian's World Championship rival, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, had to settle for fourth on the grid.

Result: 1st Felipe Massa, 2nd Jarno Trulli, 3rd Kimi Räikkönen, 4th Lewis Hamilton, 5th Heikki Kovalainen, 6th Fernando Alonso, 7th Sebastian Vettel, 8th Nick Heidfeld, 9th Sébastien Bourdais, 10th Timo Glock.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with: